WBC look to tidy up Bantamweight mess, order Gaballo Vs Rodriguez II
Back in December we saw a mess being created around WBC Bantamweight title as circumstancs came to result in several messes at once.
Firstly there was positive Covid19 test for Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12) in November, scuppering a scheduled mandatory title defense with Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26). Oubaali was then designated the WBC "champion in recess" with Donaire then scheduled to face a different opponent for the full world title title.
That was before Donaire himself tested positive for Covid19, in what now seems to have been a false positive. That meant Donaire was out of the bout.
Following Donaire's positive test he was replaced by fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo (24-0, 21) who defeated former IBF Bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12), in highly debated fashion, to claim the WBC "interim" title. A title that was created due to Donaire needing to pull out.
Earlier this year the WBC re-assessed Oubaali's "Champion in recess" status, and designated him as the normal champion, giving him back the status he had before his positive test. He will now be allowed to make a voluntary defense, which seems likely to be in March, before taking on Donaire later in 2021.
Today the WBC have now confirmed the future of their interim champion, announcing that Gaballo has been ordered to rematch Rodriguez, due to the controversial result in their December bout.
The WBC explained that "After a formal appeal was received by the WBC a committee of ring officials completed a thorough analysis and review of the match, resulting in the order of free negotiations for an immediate rematch between Gaballo and Rodríguez."
We suspect the plan, longer term, is that the winner of Oubaali, his March opponent and Donaire, will take on the winner of Gaballo Vs Rodriguez II down the line. Though that is quite some way off for now.
Firstly there was positive Covid19 test for Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12) in November, scuppering a scheduled mandatory title defense with Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26). Oubaali was then designated the WBC "champion in recess" with Donaire then scheduled to face a different opponent for the full world title title.
That was before Donaire himself tested positive for Covid19, in what now seems to have been a false positive. That meant Donaire was out of the bout.
Following Donaire's positive test he was replaced by fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo (24-0, 21) who defeated former IBF Bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12), in highly debated fashion, to claim the WBC "interim" title. A title that was created due to Donaire needing to pull out.
Earlier this year the WBC re-assessed Oubaali's "Champion in recess" status, and designated him as the normal champion, giving him back the status he had before his positive test. He will now be allowed to make a voluntary defense, which seems likely to be in March, before taking on Donaire later in 2021.
Today the WBC have now confirmed the future of their interim champion, announcing that Gaballo has been ordered to rematch Rodriguez, due to the controversial result in their December bout.
The WBC explained that "After a formal appeal was received by the WBC a committee of ring officials completed a thorough analysis and review of the match, resulting in the order of free negotiations for an immediate rematch between Gaballo and Rodríguez."
We suspect the plan, longer term, is that the winner of Oubaali, his March opponent and Donaire, will take on the winner of Gaballo Vs Rodriguez II down the line. Though that is quite some way off for now.